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Remove the FDA's discriminatory ban on gay blood donors

Created by J.M. on January 19, 2013

Under current FDA guidelines, any man who has "had sex with a man even once since 1977," is not eligible to donate blood to the American Red Cross. The policy was enacted in the 80s when homosexuals were labeled a risk group for HIV infection, but in this day and age is completely unnecessary due to modern blood screening techniques that test every donor's blood for viruses such as HIV.
Especially when considering that men who have had sex with a prostitute are only banned from donating for one year, the infamous "gay blood ban" can hardly be viewed as anything less than an offensive and stigma-based policy that should have been removed years ago.
With an growing need for blood donations it is not fair OR logical to turn away minority donors based on irrelevant and outdated stereotypes.

Civil Rights & Equality
Government & Regulatory Reform
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